Kickoff Time Changed For Massillon/Hoban Championship Game
The kickoff time for the Division 2 State Championship Game between the Massillon Tigers and the Hoban Knights has been moved up from 7:00pm to 6:15pm in order to comply with Governor DeWine’s curfew order.
WHBC’s coverage of the game will now begin at 5:00pm with the Aultcare Stadium Show.
The following is the official release from OHSAA:
In order to assist with Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s 10 p.m. statewide curfew order, the Ohio High School Athletic Association has adjusted the game times for the football state championship games this weekend at Fortress Obetz in Columbus. The games will now kickoff at 1:15 and 6:15 on Friday and Saturday, instead of 2:00 and 7:00 as previously announced.
In addition, the games on Sunday will kickoff at 12:15 and 5:15 (instead of noon and 5:00) so that all six games have a consistent pregame timing format.
While teams and fans can still travel home after 10:00 p.m., the OHSAA’s goal is that the stadium is closed by 10:00 p.m.
“We want to support the Governor’s curfew order,” said OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute. “Kicking off earlier will help ensure that everyone has left the stadium by 10:00 Friday and Saturday night. We’ll need a sense of urgency to leave the facility after those games, but we don’t want to take away from the postgame experience. We are so excited to host the football state championship games this weekend and complete the fall season, so we want to help with the curfew order to leave the stadium by 10:00.”
The OHSAA is aware that the Franklin County Department of Health has also issued an advisory beginning Friday at 6 p.m. asking residents to stay at home due to the rapid rise of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the city and county. At this time, that advisory does not affect the status of the football state championship games.
Football State Championship Games
All games at Fortress Obetz.
Home team listed first.
Division VII
Friday, November 20, 1:15 p.m. – New Bremen (9-2) vs. Warren John F. Kennedy (9-2)
Division II
Friday, November 20, 6:15 p.m. – Massillon Washington (10-1) vs. Akron Archbishop Hoban (10-0)
Division V
Saturday, November 21, 1:15 p.m. – Kirtland (10-0) vs. Ironton (11-0)
Division III
Saturday, November 21, 6:15 p.m. – Columbus St. Francis DeSales (9-1) vs. Chardon (11-0)
Division IV
Sunday, November 22, 12:15 p.m. – Van Wert (10-1) vs. Mentor Lake Catholic (8-2)
Division VI
Sunday, November 22, 5:15 p.m. – New Middletown Springfield (11-0) vs. Coldwater (11-0)
